Why is it smoky today in Colorado? Wildfires send smoke as temperatures near 100 degrees
With record to near-record heat blistering Colorado on Monday, you might think the smoke in the air is from a Colorado wildfire.
It's not. Instead, the smoke is primarily drifting into Colorado from the Pipeline Fire near Flagstaff, Arizona, which ignited yesterday, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.
The weather service said the smoke is currently elevated and not near the surface except in the mountains. It is expected that increased surface concentrations will occur later Monday as hot conditions help mix down the air aloft.
There are no major wildfires in Colorado currently.
The Pipeline Fire, reported at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, is located 6 miles north of Flagstaff and resulted in numerous evacuations, according to the fire tracker website Inciweb.
Smoke and fire map: See the latest conditions across the nation
It was fanned by strong winds and was estimated at 4,500 acres Sunday, burning among pine trees, brush and grass.
A 57-year-old man was arrested by U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers and charged with natural resource violations, according to the fire website.
At this time, no structures or homes have been destroyed.
Colorado will see another day of hot, dry and windy conditions that will lead to increased fire concerns Monday, but no red flag warning is expected, according to the weather service in Boulder.
Some of you have asked about the smoky sky this morning. That smoke aloft is primarily drifting into Colorado from the Pipeline Fire near Flagstaff, AZ, which ignited yesterday.
Here's a forecast loop showing projected smoke through today. #COwx pic.twitter.com/GRiJba5vaN— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) June 13, 2022
A large swath of the eastern half of Colorado, including Fort Collins, will see temperatures near 100 degrees, 30 mph gusts and relative humidity in the single digits.
Still, the weather service said it is best to avoid burning or activities that could create sparks Monday.
What's the weather like this week? Get your daily forecast
State climatologist Russ Schumacher said Fort Collins' high Saturday was 99 degrees, a record for the day and the earliest it’s ever been 99 degrees or warmer.
Monday is forecast to be the city's fifth straight day of 90 degrees or warmer, with a forecast high of 98 degrees.
Can we just skip this Monday and go to Tuesday? Because the weather today will be terrible. Record heat, strong winds, very dry conditions, and smoky/hazy skies. 0/10 do not want. #COwx pic.twitter.com/6aQRO3uxZj
— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) June 13, 2022
Reporter Miles Blumhardt looks for stories that impact your life. Be it news, outdoors, sports — you name it, he wants to report it. Have a story idea? Contact him at milesblumhardt@coloradoan.com or on Twitter @MilesBlumhardt. Support his work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado smoke coming from Arizona wildfire; temps near 100 forecast
